Lord Mayor Betty Disero says the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has no plans to exempt "slow down" lawn signs from the town's bylaw.
Free signs are being distributed by CAA Niagara to promote traffic safety.
But NOTL's sign bylaw outlaws such lawn signs. It's not known how often the prohibition is enforced.
Disero said she fears that if council allows one sign then it will have to allow others, which could result in offensive signs being displayed in the municipality.
The issue could come to council in the next few weeks and the signs might be allowed, Disero said.
“Council’s unpredictable. We haven’t talked about it but I’m sure we will,” Disero said.
CAA Niagara in partnership with the Niagara Regional Police Service is offering the signs free to all residents in the region to try to curb speeding on residential streets, according to a police news release.
Signs are limited to one per household.
“We have to be very careful about allowing lawn signs because we could end up with some very awkward and controversial signs that may not be pleasant for people in our community,” the mayor said.
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati gives such signs free to residents and says people love them, Disero said.
It’s not just offensive material that has Disero concerned. She also worries that people's lawns could turn into popular places for business advertisements.
“It’s the influx of a lot of different signs and some hurtful ones. So, I don’t know.”
- Evan Saunders, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Lake Report
